Computer network scanning

ABSTRACT

A computer network scanning system and method for fulfilling a scan order using at least one scanner node on a computer network. The computer network scanning system comprising: (A) at least one computer terminal adapted to receive input for the creation of the scan order; (B) at least one order entry server computer configured to create and distribute the scan order; and (C) at least one scanner node, each scanner node configured to process scan orders sent to or retrieved by the scanner node. The computer network scanning method comprising the steps of: (W) creating a scan order; (X) submitting the scan order to a scanner node; (Y) processing the scan order at the scanner node; and (Z) updating the computer network scanning system of the completion of the scan order.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention pertains to the field of creating scan orders from alocal computer terminal and fulfilling the scan order using scannernodes connected to a computer network and shared by all computerterminals on the network.

BACKGROUND ART

In the traditional mode of operation, requesting the scanning of adocument located remotely is a very time-consuming, inefficient anderror-prone process. Under such traditional mode, a requestor must senda request to the location where the document resides. The recipient andprocessor of the request (hereafter “scan clerk”) must manually preparethe scanner for operation according to the specifications of therequestor including, for example, setting scanner options such as color,resolution, format, number of pages and security password. To makematters more difficult, scanners often have limited user interfacecapabilities, with minimalistic, button-oriented control panels.Programming a long set of actions using few buttons can be cumbersomeand frustrating.

After the document has been scanned into the scanner in the traditionalmode, the scan clerk must manually forward the scanned document to eachof the designated recipients per the instructions of the requester. Thistypically requires, among other things, the manual creation of acoversheet for each recipient which includes contact information and anyother special instructions and the physical sending of the scanneddocument along with coversheet to each recipient. Needless to say, thecreation of such a coversheet for and the sending of the scanneddocument to each recipient is a tedious, time-consuming and error-proneprocess.

In addition, under the traditional mode of operation, there is no way ofautomatically notifying the requestor (or others) that the scan orderhas been processed. If the requestor requires such notification, thescanner clerk must either physically deliver to the requestor a copy ofthe notification (such notification often consisting of a copy of thescanned document along with the coversheet time-stamped) to therequester, or draft and send an email to the requester.

Moreover, under the traditional mode of operation, because the scannersare not linked via a computer network, the requestor can send the scanrequest to only a single scan clerk for processing at a single scanner.If such person and/or scanner is busy, non-functioning or otherwiseunavailable, the requestor must wait until such resource becomes freeand available, even though there may be other scanners and scannerclerks with the capability to process such request within the rest ofthe company. In short, having scanners which are not linked together ona computer network fails to optimize the use of the available scanningresources since scanning jobs directed to a busy scanner cannot bere-routed to another scanner which is not being utilized.

Given the foregoing, there is a need for an automated, networked,easy-to-use, resource maximizing system and method for scanningdocuments.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention is a computer network scanning system (100) andmethod (300) for creating and fulfilling a scan order over a computernetwork. The computer network scanning system (100) comprises: (A) atleast one computer terminal (105) adapted to receive input for thecreation of the scan order; (B) at least one order entry server computer(115) configured to create and distribute the scan order, each orderentry server computer (115) coupled to each terminal (105); and (C) atleast one scanner node (125), each scanner node (125) coupled to eachorder entry server computer (115) and each scanner node (125) configuredto process scan orders (1100) sent to the scanner node (125). Thecomputer network scanning method (300) comprises: (W) creating a scanorder (1100); (X) submitting the scan order (1100) to scanner node(s)(125); (Y) processing the scan order (1100) at the scanner node(s)(125); and (Z) updating the system (100) of the completion of the scanorder (1100).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other more detailed and specific objects and features of thepresent invention are more fully disclosed in the followingspecification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of one embodiment of the computer network scanningsystem 100 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the computer networkscanning system 100 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the computernetwork scanning method 300 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating one method of creating a scanorder 310 in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating one method of reconciling 420inputted scanner settings and parameters with a capability profile ofeach scanner node 125 designated in a scan order 1100.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating one method of processing 320 ascan order 1100 in the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a flow diagram illustrating one method of updating the queueof scan orders 1100 at a scanner node 125.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating one method of setting 645 thescanner node 125 to the desired settings and parameters as specified ina scan order 1100.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating one method of updating thecomputer network scanning system 100 in the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a sample scan order entry form 900 in an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a sample list 1000 of scanner nodes 125 on acomputer network scanning system 100 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a sample scan order 1100 in an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates examples of various user interfaces of a scannernode 125.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the computernetwork scanning system 100 of the present invention, in which the scanorders 1100 are stored in and retrieved from a central database 1305.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of thecomputer network scanning method 1400 of the present invention, in whichscan orders 1100 are stored in and retrieved from a central database1305.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of one embodiment of the computer network scanningsystem 100 of the present invention. The computer network scanningsystem 100 includes at least one local computer terminal 105, at leastone order entry server computer 115, and at least one scanner node 125,all coupled via a computer network 140 as shown in FIG. 1, which network140 may be wired, wireless or both. There may be an arbitrary number ofterminals 105(1)-105(m), order entry server computers 115(1)-115(n), andscanner nodes 125(1)-125(o), and the scanner nodes 125 may havedifferent configurations. For example, the scanner node 125(o) consistsof a scanner and a server, whereas the scanner node 125(1) consistssimply of a scanner with processor on the scanner.

A requestor may enter his or her scan order 1100 via a scan order entryform 900, a sample of which form is shown in FIG. 9, through a terminal105. A sample scan order 1100 is shown in FIG. 11. An order entry servercomputer 115 coupled to the terminal 105 facilitates the creation andsubmission of the scan order 1100 for processing by the scanner node(s)125 designated in the scan order 1100. Each scanner node 125 designatedin the scan order 1100 receives the scan order 1100 sent by the orderentry server computer 115, processes the scan order 1100, then updatesthe computer network scanning system of the completion of such scanorder 1100.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the computer networkscanning system 100 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, aterminal 105 has access to browser software 215. An order entry servercomputer 115 includes a user interface module 225, a scanner directoryservice module 230, a scan order reconciler module 235, an email servermodule 240, and a script writer module 245. Each module of the orderentry server computer 115 is coupled to another as shown in FIG. 2, andthe modules may be implemented in hardware, software and/or firmware.

A requestor sitting at a local terminal 105 uses the browser software215 to invoke a scan order entry form 900. An order entry servercomputer 115, among other things, (a) provides a scan order entry form900 to each requestor via the computer network 140 so the requestor caninput the relevant scanner settings and parameters, (b) verifies, usingthe scan order reconciler module 235, that the scanner nodes 125selected by the requestor are capable of performing the requestedscanning, (c) converts, using the script writer module 245, the inputreceived from the requestor into a scan order 1100, and (d) emails,using the email server module 240, the scan order 1100 over the computernetwork 140 to the scanner node(s) 125 designated in the scan order1100.

In one embodiment of the computer network scanning system 100, thescanner directory service module 230 is a database containing acapability profile of each scanner node 125 on the computer network 140,each capability profile having been entered into the database in advanceof the use of the computer network 140. In an alternative embodiment ofthe computer network scanning system 100, the scanner directory servicemodule 230 is a protocol based lookup/discovery software module such asSun Microsystems, Inc.'s JIM which can generate a capability profile fora given scanner node 125 on demand. A capability profile may includesuch information as LJRL, user-friendly name, model, geographicallocation, resolution and color scanning ability of the scanner node 125.The above embodiments simply illustrate two implementations of thescanner directory service module 230. Any other software, hardwareand/or firmware which is capable of providing or determining thecapabilities of the scanner nodes on the computer network can also beused as a scanner directory service module.

The scan order entry form 900 may contain multiple fields, each fieldcapable of receiving relevant input information from the requestor suchas requestor's email address, address(es) of recipient(s) of the scanneddocument, address(es) of parties to be notified of the scanning (but notsent a copy of the scanned document), name of document to be scanned,selected scanner node(s) 125, resolution setting of scanner node(s) 125,and any additional instructions. As noted above, an example of a scanorder entry form 900 is shown in FIG. 9. By clicking on “Scanner(s)”under “Device Settings” shown in FIG. 9, the requestor receives thescanner nodes 125(1)-125(o) available on the computer network 140 asshown at 1000 in FIG. 10. The requestor may then select which scannernode(s) 125(1)-125(o) he or she wishes to process the scan order 1100 bychecking the “select” column in FIG. 10. As can be seen in FIG. 10, thelist of scanner nodes 125 may include such information as scanner name,model, whether the scanner node 125 is capable of color scans, location,contact information and any other special notes. The list of scannernodes 125 shown in FIG. 10 is generated by the scanner directory servicemodule 230.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2, a scanner node 125 includes a scriptinterpreter module 260, a scanner driver module 265, a scanner module275, an email server module 280, a scan order queue updater and sortermodule 270, and a user interface module 255. Each module of the scannernode 125 is coupled to another as shown in FIG. 2, and each module maybe implemented in hardware, software and/or firmware. A scanner node125, among other things, (a) parses the scan order 1100 using the scriptinterpreter module 260, (b) sets the settings and parameters of thescanner module 275 using the scanner driver module 265,,(c) scans theitem designated in the scan order 1100 to create an electronic image ofthe item using the scanner module 275, (d) updates and sorts the queueof the scanner node 125 using the scan order queue updater and portermodule 270, (e) using the email server module 280, sends the electronicimage of the scanned item to the address(es) indicated in the scan order1100, (f) notifies the requestor and any other parties indicated in thescan order 1100 of the completion of the scan order 1100 using the emailserver module 280, (g) updates the scanner nodes 125 on the computernetwork 140 of the completion of the scan order 1100. The operations ofthe order entry server computer 115 and scanner node 125 are describedin greater detail in connection with the discussion associated withFIGS. 3-8. Examples of various user interfaces of a scanner node 125 areillustrated in FIG. 12. Specifically, FIG. 12A illustrates the userinterface of the scanner node 125, which permits copying, faxing,scanning or viewing of scan orders 1100. FIG. 12B illustrates an exampleof a list of scan orders 1100 in a queue of a scanner node 125. FIG. 12Cillustrates a scan order 1100 that has been selected for processing andthat appears on the user interface 255 of a scanner node 125.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of the computernetwork scanning method 300 of the present invention. At the start 305of the operation, the requestor situated at a terminal 105 interactswith an order entry server computer 115 to create 310 a scan order 1100.After creating 310 the scan order 1100, which is discussed more fully inconnection with FIG. 4, the order entry server computer 115 submits 315the scan order 1100 to the scanner node 125 designated in the scan order1100 using the email server module 240, and the scanner node 125processes 320 the scan order 1100, which is discussed more fully inconnection with FIG. 6. Finally, the scanner node 125 updates 325 allrelevant scanner nodes 125 of the completing of the scan order 1100,which is discussed more fully in connection with FIG. 8. In a preferredembodiment, the email server module 280 performs such updating 325 bysending emails to such scanner nodes 125. The process then ends at 330.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating one method of creating a scanorder 1100 as shown aw 310 in FIG. 3 in the present invention. As shownin FIG. 4, creating 310 a scan order 1100 includes the following steps:(a) accessing 410 from an order entry server computer 115 a userinterface module 225 which permits the input of a scan order 1100 from alocal terminal 105; (b) inputting 415 from the local terminal 105 adesired set of scanner settings and parameters through the accessed userinterface module 225 at the terminal 105; (c) reconciling 420 theinputted scanner settings and parameters with a capability profileassociated with each scanner node 125 designated in the scan order 1100(as discussed more fully in connection with FIG. 5); and (d) converting425 the reconciled scanner settings and parameters into a scan order1100 using the script writer module 225 in the order entry servercomputer 115, whereafter the process is done at 430. In a preferredembodiment of the present invention, the step of accessing 410 a userinterface module 225 may involve the use of a Web browser to retrieve(i.e., download) a World Wide Web page which is adapted to receive inputconcerning scanner settings and parameters.

As noted above, a sample scan order 1100 is shown in FIG. 11. As can beseen in FIG. 11, the scan order 1100 may be a script in standard ASCIItext format and may contain special mark-up coding language tofacilitate the parsing and interpretation of the scan order 1100 by thescript interpreter module 260 as discussed in greater detail below.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram for one method of reconciling inputtedscanner settings and parameters with a capability profile of eachscanner node 125 designated in the scan order 1100, as shown at 420 inFIG. 4. At the start 505 of the operation, the order entry servercomputer 115 retrieves 510 from the scanner directory service module 230the capability profile of each scanner node 125 designated in the scanorder 1100. The order entry server computer 115 then compares 515 theretrieved capability profiles with the scan order 1100 and determines520 whether the scan order 1100 is inconsistent with any retrievedcapability profile. If yes, the order entry server computer 115 providesnotification 525 of the inconsistency to the requestor using the userinterface module 225 and permits 530 either: (a) the selection of analternative scanner node 125(x,); or (b) the acceptance of the selectedscanner node 125(x,,), even though such scanner node 125 (xo) lacks thefull, desired capabilities. Otherwise, if the scan order 1100 isconsistent with all retrieved capability profiles, reconciliation 420 iscomplete 535. For example, if a requestor has requested the scanning ofa document with 1200 dpi resolution, but has selected a scanner node125(x,,) that can handle resolution, of only 600 dpi or lower, the entryorder server 115—will warn the requestor of this inconsistency andpermit the requester to select another scanner node 125(x,) (presumablycapable of scanning with 1200 dpi resolution) or to continue with theoriginally selected scanner node 125(xo) which can scan with only 600dpi resolution.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of one method of processing a scanorder 1100 as shown at 320 in FIG. 3 in the present invention. At thestart 605 of the operation, the scanning mode of the scanner node 125 isinvoked 610. Next, the script interpreter module 260 in the scanner node125 parses 615 the scan order 1100. The scanner node 125 then: (a)updates 620 the queue of scan orders 1100 at the scanner node 125 usinga process which eliminates from the queue all scan orders 1100 that aretime-expired or count-expired; (b) prioritizes 625 the scan orders 1100in the updated queue according to a predetermined algorithm; (c) lists630 the prioritized scan orders 1100; (d) has one of the scan orders1100 in the queue selected 635; (e) has the item to be scanned obtained640; (f) sets 645 the scanner node 125 to the desired settings andparameters as specified in the scan order 1100 (as discussed more fullyin connection with FIG. 7); (g) has the item to be scanned placed 650into the scanner module 275; (h) initiates 655 scanning; (i) sends 660 ascanned image to the address(es) and according to the instructionsspecified in the scan order 1100 using the email server module 280; and(j) sends 670 notification using the email server module 280 ofcompletion of the scan order to any parties indicated in the scan order1100, whereafter the process ends at 675. Possible predeterminedalgorithms in step (b) above include, but are not limited to, first-infirst-out, alphabetical based on requestor's name or document name, orrequestor specified priority level (e.g., high, medium or low).

FIG. 6A is a flow diagram of one method of updating 620 the queue ofscan orders 1100 at a scanner node 125, as described in step (a) in theparagraph above. At the start 6A05 of the operation, the scanner node125 determines 6A10 whether the scan order 1100 has time expired. Ifyes, the scanner node 125 removes 6A25 the scan order 1100 from thequeue. If no, the scanner node 125 determines 6A15 whether the scanorder 1100 has count-expired. In other. words, if a scan order 1100indicates that it is to be performed a multiple number of times, thescan order 1100 has “count-expired” if the scan order 1100 has alreadybeen performed the specified number of times. If the scan order 1100 has“count-expired,” the scanner node 125 removes 6A25 the scan order 1100from the queue. If the scan order1 100 has not “countexpired,” thescanner node 125 determines 6A20 whether there is a count reductionnotification for the scan order 1100. If yes, the count associated withthe scan order 1100 is reduced 6A30, and the steps illustrated in FIG.6A are repeated. Otherwise, the updating 620 has been completed 6A35.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of one method of setting the scanner node 125to the desired settings and parameters as specified in the scan order1100, as shown at 645 in FIG. 6. At the start 705 of the operation, thescanner node 125 parses 710 the scan order 1100 using the scriptinterpreter module 260 in the scanner node 125, and the scanner node 125sends 715 commands to the scanner driver module 265 based uponinformation obtained from the parsed scan order 1100, after which theprocess ends at 720.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of one method of updating the scanner nodes 125in the computer network 140 after a scanner node 125(xa) has processed ascan order 1100, as shown at 325 in FIG. 3. At the start 805 of theoperation, the scanner node 125(x,) that processed the scan order 1100either requests removal 810 of the scan order from its queue or requestscount reduction of the scan order. The scanner node 125(x,) requestsremoval of the scan order 1100 when the count in the scan order 1100 isone. Next, the scanner node 125(x,) checks 815 to see if the scan order1100 was sent to any other scanner node(s) 125(x). If the scanner node125(x,) determines 820 that the scan order 1100 was sent to otherscanner node(s) 125(x), the scanner node 125(x(,) that processed thescan order 1100 sends 825 an email using the email server module 280 tothe other scanner node(s) 125(x) that received the scan order 1100,requesting either removal or count reduction of the scan order 1100.Again, the scanner node 125(x(,) requests removal of the scan order 1100when the count in the scan order 1100 is one. Otherwise, if the scannernode 125(x,) determines 820 that the scan order 1100 was not sent toother scanner node(s) 125(x), the updating is complete 830.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment 1300 of thecomputer network scanning system of the present invention, in which thescan orders 1100 are stored in and retrieved from a central database1305. As shown in FIG. 13, a terminal 105 has access to browser software1315.

An order entry server computer 1310 includes a user interface module1325, a scanner directory service module 1330, a scan order reconcilermodule 1335, a central database 1305, and a script writer module 1345.The scanner directory service module 1330 is identical to scannerservice directory module 230, scan order reconciler module 1335identical to scan order reconciler module 235, and script writer module1345 identical to script writer module 245, hence the similar numbersand names. As with the modules in FIG. 2, each module of the order entryserver computer 115 in FIG. 13 is coupled to another as shown in FIG.13, and the modules may be implemented in hardware, software and/orfirmware. The only differences between the order entry server computer115 illustrated in FIG. 2 versus the order entry server computer 1310illustrated in FIG. 13 are: (A) the replacement of the email servermodule 240 with the central database 1305; and (B) an enhanced userinterface module 1325. In an alternative embodiment, the centraldatabase 1305 may be added to (and need not replace the email servermodule 1306 in) the order entry server computer 1310. The enhanced userinterface module 1325 of FIG. 13 has the same structure andfunctionality as the user interface module 225 in FIG. 2, except thatthe enhanced user interface module 1325 also permits the requestor tocheck the status of a scan order 1100 stored in the central database1305 and to manipulate such scan order 1100.

In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 13, instead of emailing viathe email server module 240 the scan order 1100 over the computernetwork 140 to the scanner node 1323 designated in the scan order 1100,the entry order server 1310 sends the reconciled scan order 1100 to acentral database 1305. The central database 1305, which may reside inthe order entry server computer 1310 as illustrated in FIG. 13, oroutside, contains a record of all scan orders 1100 submitted to thecomputer network scanning system 1300. Each scanner node 1323 on thecomputer network 140 has access to the contents of the central database1305. When a scanner node 1323 has completed processing a scan order1100 assigned to it, the scan order 1100 is deleted from the centraldatabase 1305. The central database 1305 may be used to track the statusof all outstanding scan orders 1100 processed by the computer networkscanning system 1300.

As further illustrated in FIG. 13, the alternative embodiment 1300 ofthe computer network scanning system 1300 also includes at least onescanner node 1323. The scanner node 1323 comprises a script interpretermodule 1360, a scanner driver module 1365, a scanner module 1375, anemail server module 1380, a scan order retrieval, queue updater andsorter module 1370, and a user interface module 1355. Each module of thescanner node 1323 is coupled to another as shown in FIG. 13, and eachmodule may be implemented in hardware, software and/or firmware. Thescript interpreter module 1360 is identical to the script interpretermodule 260, scanner driver module 1365 identical to scanner drivermodule 265, scanner module 1375 identical to scanner module 275, emailserver module 1380 identical to email server module 280, and userinterface module 1355 identical to user interface module 255, hence thesimilar names and numbers. The scan order retrieval, queue updater andsorter module 1370 is also identical to the scan order queue updater andsorter module 270, except that the scan order retrieval, queue updaterand sorter module 1370 also retrieves scan orders 1100 from the centraldatabase 1305 each time the resources of the scanner node 1323 becomeavailable.

Otherwise, the scanner node 1323, like the scanner node 125, (a) invokesthe scanning mode, (b) parses the scan order 1100 using the scriptinterpreter module 1360, (c) updates the queue of scan orders 1100 atthe scanner node 1323, (d) prioritizes the scan orders 1100 in theupdated queue according to a predetermined algorithm, (e) lists theprioritized scan orders 1100, (f) selects one of the scan orders 1100 inthe queue, (g) obtains the item to be scanned, (h) sets the scanner node1323 to the desired settings and parameters as specified in the scanorder 1100, (i) has items to be scanned placed into the scanner module,(j) has scanning initiated, (k) sends a scanned image to the address(es)and according to the instructions specified in the scan order 1100 usingthe email server module 1380, and (l) sends notification using the emailserver module 1380 of completion of the scan order to any partiesindicated in the scan order 1100.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of an alternative embodiment 1400 of thecomputer network scanning method of the present invention, in which thescan orders 1100 are stored in and retrieved from a central database1305. At the start 1405 of the operation, the requester situated at aterminal 105 interacts with an order entry server computer 1310 tocreate 1410 a scan order 1100. After creating 1410 the scan order 1100,the order entry server computer 1310 stores 1415 the scan order 1100 inthe central database 1305. When a scanner node 1323 becomes available,the scanner node 1323 retrieves 1420 from the central database 1305 thescan orders for that scanner node 1323 and processes 1425 a selectedscan order 1100. The substeps for creating 1410 a scan order in FIG. 14are identical to the substeps of creating a scan order 310 in FIG. 4,and the substeps of processing 1425 the scan orders are identical to thesubsteps for processing the scan order shown in FIG. 6. After processingthe scan order 1100 at the scanner node 1323, in the alternativeembodiment 1400 of the computer network scanning method, the scannernode 1323 updates 1430 the central database 1305, after which theprocess ends at 1435.

The above description is included to illustrate the operation of thepreferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of theinvention. The scope of the invention is to be limited only by thefollowing claims. From the above discussion, many variations will beapparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by thespirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A computer network scanning system for fulfilling a scan order over acomputer network, said system comprising: at least one computer terminaladapted to invoke a scan order entry form, from an order entry server,for inputting a scanner node, a scan setting for causing the inputtedscanner node to scan an image, and a destination for sending the scannedimage, wherein said one computer terminal is further adapted to acceptinput of the scanner node, the scan setting, and the destination via theinvoked scan order entry form by a user; at least one order entry servercomputer configured to reconcile the inputted scan setting with acapability profile of the inputted scanner node to perform scanning, andto create and distribute a scan order in accordance with thereconciliation result, each order entry server computer being coupled tosaid at least one computer terminal through the computer network; and atleast one scanner node, each scanner node being coupled to said at leastone computer terminal and each order entry server computer through thecomputer network, each scanner node being configured to select a scanorder from a plurality of scan orders received from at least one of theorder entry servers through the computer network by a user operation atthe scanner node to select a scan order, and each scanner node beingconfigured to generate a scanned image based on the selected scan orderand to send the scanned image to the destination included in theselected scan order, wherein each scanner node comprises: a userinterface module; a script interpreter module for parsing the scan orderin order to obtain scanner settings and parameters contained therein,the script interpreter module coupled to the user interface module; ascan order queue updater and sorter module coupled to the user interfacemodule and to the script interpreter module, the scan order queueupdater and sorter module configured to update and sort a queue of ascanner node; a scanner driver module adapted to receive an output ofthe script interpreter module and to set settings and parameters of thescanner node based on the output; a scanner module coupled to thescanner driver module and adapted to receive scanner settings andparameters from the scanner driver module and configured to produce ascanned image; and an email server module coupled to the computernetwork, to the script interpreter module, and to the scanner module,the email server module configured to receive the scan order sent overthe computer network, to send an electronic mail message containing thescanned image to any recipients indicated in the scan order, and to sendan electronic mail message without the scanned image to any partiesindicated in the scan order notifying such parties of the completion ofthe scan order.
 2. The computer network scanning system of claim 1further comprising a central database coupled via the computer networkto each scanner node and to each terminal, the central database adaptedto store and retrieve scan orders.
 3. The computer network scanningsystem of claim 1 wherein each terminal has associated therewith browsersoftware for inputting scan orders.
 4. The computer network scanningsystem of claim 1 wherein each order entry server computer comprises: auser interface module coupled to the computer network and adapted toreceive scanner settings and parameters for the scan order from theterminal(s); a scanner directory service module coupled to the userinterface module and configured to provide a capability profile for eachscanner node on the computer network; a scan order reconciler modulecoupled to the scanner directory service module and to the userinterface module and adapted to receive scanner settings and parametersfor the scan order inputted through the user interface module, the scanorder reconciler module configured to compare a capability profile for ascanner node with the inputted scanner settings and parameters forconsistency and to provide notification through the user interfacemodule of any inconsistencies; a script writer module coupled to andadapted to receive input from the scan order reconciler module andconfigured to create the scan order by translating scanner settings andparameters inputted from the terminal through the user interface moduleinto a script that can be parsed by the scanner nodes; and an emailserver module adapted to receive the scan order from the script writermodule and configured to send electronic mail messages to any addressdesignated in the scan order and to send the scan order to any scannernode on the computer network.
 5. The computer network scanning system ofclaim 4 wherein the scanner directory service module is a moduleselected from the group comprising (A) a database containing acapability profile for each scanner node on the computer network, thedatabase populated by entering a capability profile for each scannernode before using the database, and (B) a directory of capabilityprofiles for the scanner nodes on the computer network generated ondemand by a lookup/discovery software module.
 6. The computer networkscanning system of claim 1 wherein each order entry server computercomprises: a user interface module coupled to the computer network andadapted to receive scanner settings and parameters for the scan orderfrom the terminal(s); a scanner directory service module coupled to theuser interface module and configured to provide a capability profile foreach scanner node on the computer network; a scan order reconcilermodule coupled to the scanner directory service module and the userinterface module and adapted to receive scanner settings and parametersfor the scan order inputted through the user interface module, the scanorder reconciler module configured to compare a capability profile for ascanner node with the inputted scanner settings and parameters forconsistency and to provide notification through the user interfacemodule of any inconsistencies; a script writer module coupled to andadapted to receive input from the scan order reconciler module andconfigured to create the scan order by translating scanner settings andparameters inputted from the terminal through the user interface moduleinto a script that can be parsed by the scanner nodes; and a centraldatabase coupled to the script writer module and to the computernetwork, the central database accessible over the computer network byall scanner nodes and terminals on the computer network, the centraldatabase adapted to store and retrieve scan orders generated by thescript writer module.
 7. The computer network scanning system of claim 6further comprising an email server module coupled to the computernetwork and to the central database and configured to send electronicmail messages to any address designated in the scan order.
 8. Thecomputer network scanning system of claim 1 wherein each scanner nodecomprises: a user interface module; a script interpreter module forparsing the scan order in order to obtain scanner settings andparameters contained therein; a scan order retrieval, queue updater andsorter module coupled to the computer network, to the user interfacemodule, and to the script interpreter module, the scan order retrieval,queue updater and sorter module configured to retrieve scan orders froma central database and to update and sort retrieved scan orders in aqueue in a scanner node; a scanner driver module coupled to the scriptinterpreter module, the scanner driver module adapted to receive anoutput of the script interpreter module and to set settings andparameters of the scanner node based on the output; a scanner modulecoupled to the scanner driver module and adapted to receive scannersettings and parameters from the scanner driver module and configured toproduce a scanned image; and an email server module coupled to thecomputer network and to the scanner module, the email server moduleconfigured to receive the scanned image from the scanner module, to sendan electronic mail message containing the scanned image to anyrecipients indicated in the scan order, and to send an electronic mailmessage without the scanned image to any parties indicated in the scanorder notifying such parties of the completion of the scan order.
 9. Acomputer network scanning method for fulfilling a scan order over acomputer network having at least one scanner node, said methodcomprising: creating the scan order in accordance with an operation by auser at a local computer terminal, wherein through operation of the userthe local computer terminal inputs a scanner node and a scan setting forcausing the inputted scanner node to scan an image, and a destinationfor sending information regarding the scanned image, and wherein thelocal computer causes an order entry server to reconcile the inputtedscan setting with a capability profile of the inputted scanner node toperform scanning, and wherein the scan order is created in accordancewith the reconciliation result, and wherein the scan order includes anidentification of the inputted scan setting and the destination of atleast one individual selected from a group comprising (A) recipients ofthe scanned image, and (B) recipients of notification of completion ofthe scan order, wherein the recipients of notification of completion ofthe scan order may comprise individuals other than a requestor thatinitiates the scan order; submitting the created scan order to at leastone scanner node for processing through the computer network; displayingthe identification of the inputted scan setting included in the scanorder and processing the scan order at the scanner node by a useroperation at the scanner node to select a scan order; wherein processingof the scan order at the scanner node comprises: selecting one of thescan orders in the queue of the scanner node; parsing the selected scanorder using a script interpreter module associated with the scannernode; sending commands to a scanner driver module associated with thescanner node based upon scanner settings and parameters obtained fromthe parsed scan order; updating the scanner node which processes thescan order on the computer network by setting the scanner node todesired settings and parameters as specified in the scan order; placingthe item to be scanned in the scanner node; initiating scanning toobtain the scanned item as specified in the scan order at the scannernode; sending a scanned image of the item as specified in the scan orderusing an email server module associated with the scanner node; andsending notification using the email server module associated with thescanner node of completion of the scan order to any parties indicated inthe scan order.
 10. The computer network scanning method of claim 9wherein the step of creating the scan order comprises the substeps ofaccessing from an order entry server computer a user interface modulewhich permits input of the scan order from the terminal; inputting fromthe terminal a desired set of scanner settings and parameters throughthe user interface module; reconciling the inputted scanner settings andparameters with a capability profile associated with each scanner nodedesignated in the scan order; and converting the reconciled scannersettings and parameters into the scan order using a script writer moduleassociated with the order entry server computer.
 11. The method of claim10 wherein the step of accessing comprises using Web browser software toretrieve a Web page, the Web page adapted to receive input concerningscanner settings and parameters.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein thestep of reconciling comprises the substeps of: (a) retrieving from ascanner directory service module the capability profile for each of thescanner nodes in the designated scan order; (b) comparing the retrievedcapability profiles of the scanner nodes with the scan order; and (c)when the scan order is inconsistent with a retrieved capability profileof a scanner node: (I) providing notification of the inconsistencythrough the user interface; and (II) executing one step selected fromthe group comprising (A) the selection of an alternative scanner nodeand repeating steps (a) through (c) above, and (B) the acceptance of thescanner node with the associated capability profile.
 13. The method ofclaim 9 wherein the step of submitting uses electronic mail.
 14. Themethod of claim 9 wherein the step of processing comprises the substepsof: invoking a scanning mode at the scanner node where the scan order isreceived; parsing the scan order using a script interpreter moduleassociated with the scanner node; updating a queue of scan orders at thescanner node using a process which eliminates from the queue all scanorders that are time-expired or count-expired; prioritizing all scanorders in the updated queue according to a predetermined algorithm; andlisting the prioritized scan orders.
 15. The method of claim 14 whereinthe step of updating a queue of scanner orders at a scanner nodecomprises the substeps of (a) determining whether the scan order hastime-expired; (b) when time-expired, removing the scan order from thequeue; (c) when not time-expired, determining whether the scan order hascount-expired; (d) when count-expired, removing the scan order from thequeue; (e) when not count-expired, determining whether there is a countreduction notification associated with such scan order; and (f) whenthere is a count reduction notification, reduce count order associatedwith the scan order and repeat steps (a) through (f) above.
 16. Themethod of claim 14 wherein the predetermined algorithm is an algorithmselected from the group comprising (A) first-in first-out, (B)alphabetical, and (C) requestor-specified priority level.
 17. The methodof claim 9 wherein the step of updating the scanner node(s) on thecomputer network comprises the substeps of: requesting count reductionof the scan order when count is greater than one, and requesting removalof the scan order from the queue of the scanner node when count equalsone; determining whether the scan order has been sent to any otherscanner node(s) in the computer network; and when the scan order hasbeen sent to other scanner node(s) on the computer network, sending anelectronic mail message using the email server module from the scannernode which processed the scan order to each other scanner node,requesting (A) count reduction of the scan order when count is greaterthan one, and (B) removal of the scan order from the queue of each otherscanner node when count equals one.
 18. A computer network scanningmethod for fulfilling a scan order over a computer network having atleast one scanner node, said method comprising: creating the scan orderin accordance with an operation by a user at a local computer terminal,wherein through operation of the user the local computer terminal inputsa scanner node and a scan setting for causing the inputted scanner nodeto scan an image, and a destination for sending information regardingthe scanned image, and wherein the local computer terminal causes anorder entry server to reconcile the inputted scan setting with acapability profile of the inputted scanner node to perform scanning inaccordance with the inputted scan setting, and wherein the scan order iscreated in accordance with the reconciliation result, and wherein thescan order includes an identification of the inputted scan setting andthe destination of at least one individual selected from a groupcomprising (A) recipients of the scanned image, and (B) recipients ofnotification of completion of the scan order, wherein the recipients ofnotification of completion of the scan order may comprise individualsother than a requestor that initiates the scan order; storing thecreated scan order in a central database; retrieving the scan order fora scanner node through the computer network; displaying theidentification of the inputted scan setting included in the retrievedscan order and processing the retrieved scan order at the scanner nodedesignated in the inputted scan setting by a user operation at thescanner node to select a scan order; wherein processing of the retrievedscan order at the scanner node comprises: selecting one of the scanorders in the queue of the scanner node; parsing the selected scan orderusing a script interpreter module associated with the scanner node;sending commands to a scanner driver module associated with the scannernode based upon scanner settings and parameters obtained from the parsedscan order; updating the scanner node which processes the scan order onthe computer network by setting the scanner node to desired settings andparameters as specified in the scan order; placing the item to bescanned in the scanner node; initiating scanning to obtain the scanneditem as specified in the scan order at the scanner node; sending ascanned image of the item as specified in the scan order using an emailserver module associated with the scanner node; sending notificationusing the email server module associated with the scanner node ofcompletion of the scan order to any parties indicated in the scan order;and updating the central database.
 19. The method of claim 18 whereinthe step of updating the central database comprises deleting the scanorder from the central database.